R v A, GP

The appeal concerned a conviction for three counts of indecent assault. The appellant, who was found guilty by a judge sitting alone, challenged the admissibility of evidence relating to the victim's initial complaint and the significance attributed to the date of that complaint. Additionally, the appellant argued that the conviction on the third count was unsafe and unsatisfactory.

The central legal issues before the court were whether the trial judge erred in admitting evidence of the victim's complaint, and specifically, whether the judge's use of the date the complaint was made to the police was permissible. The court was also required to determine if the conviction on count 3 was unreasonable or unsafe, given the evidence presented.

The Full Court of the Supreme Court of South Australia dismissed the appeal. The court held that the evidence of the victim's complaint was admissible under section 34M(4) of the *Evidence Act 1929* (SA). This provision allowed the complaint to be admitted not only to demonstrate consistency in the victim's conduct but also to explain how the allegation initially came to light. Regarding the date of the complaint, the court found that its use by the judge could not have influenced his overall evaluation of the evidence. Furthermore, the court concluded that the conviction on count 3 was not unreasonable, finding it to be supported by the evidence presented at trial.